Don Bosco Pasil Affected by Fire
January 14, 2018, Cebu – Philippines. Fire broke out at 12: 26 PM, just about 600 meters where Don Bosco Youth and Training Center, Pasil stood. Barangay (village) Pasil is one of the poorest and heavily populated sections of Cebu City. It took more than two hours for the firefighters to control the conflagration. Fire fighters declared the fire under control by 2:54 p.m. Sunday.
Total (official, minimum) toll of the fire: 3260 persons, 634 families and 283 houses affected (majority completely burnt out). A portion of Don Bosco Youth Training center was damaged – the rooms of some of the Salesians, their private chapel and the roof of the rectory and training center.
The Salesians have been working in this place for about 50 years, administering the Parish of St. Nino (population of 50.000), Youth Center – Oratory, Vocation Training Center and variety of social services to the local population.
The Rector Fr. Lamberto Paradiang SDB together with four other Salesians who were present during the blaze had to evacuate. They took refuge in the building of St. Nino Parish. They are now back supervising relief and assistance efforts to the fire victims and have opened the Youth Center facilities to the families who lost everything.
The SALVO team of Fr. Arvin Abatayo, SDB and the Youth Ministry Commission of the FIS Province under Fr. Joriz Calsa, SDB have started to organize the emergency assistance and have released appeals via social media.
The Salesians of Pasil are grateful for everyone’s prayers and support. The rebuilding of nearby houses and the SDB community will start soon, hopefully also with your help!
Inquiries for donations and assistance can be made through:
Salesian (FIS) Provincial House (+63 32 346 5766)
Local Financial Assistance can be sent to:
Financial Assistance from out of the country can be sent to:
Euro Account No.: 003614-0183-12
